How To Say Hello in Different Languages

Hello! The popularly spoken greeting of the world is the beginning to all other informal and/or formal communication. A hello spoken in the native language definitely serves to bring a smile to any strange face and helps you forward. There are a few main language families in the world like the Afro-Asiatic family, the Indo-European family, the Caucasian family, the Dravidian family, the Sino-Tibetan family.

Listed below are equivalents of the word ‘hello' in various languages of the world starting with the most commonly used languages. It is also rewarding if you learn to pronounce these words right.

Chinese- Putonghua (Mandarin) Nǐhǎo (Knee how)

Chinese- HakkaNgi2 ho

HindiNamaste (Nah-ma-STAY)

SpanishHola (OH-lah)

Arabic (in various dialects)Marhaba or Marhanban as-salam alaykum

Bengali/BanglaEi Je (EYE-jay)

PortugueseAlo

RussianZdravstvuite (ZzDRAST-vet-yah)

JapaneseKonichiwa (Koh-NEE-cheewah)

German StandardGuten Tag (GOOT-en Tahk)

KoreanAnnyong ha shimnikka (An-YOH HASHim-ni-kah)

FrenchBonjour (bohn-zhoor)

VietnameseThe form of address differs based on whom you are addressing:An older man it is "Chao ong", an older woman it is "Chao da", a younger man it is "Chao anh", a younger woman, it is "Chau co", for small children it is "Chao chau"

TurkishMerhaba

HebrewShalom(Sha-LOHM)

Bhutanese (Dzongkha)Kuzo zangpo la

KhmerSues'day

GreekKalimera (Kah-lee-MEH-rah)

GeorgianGamarjobat

Kazakh (Qazaq)Salamatsys

BurmeseMingala ba

NepaliNamaskaar

FilipinoKumusta kaKumusta po

SetswanaDumela rra (to males)Dumela mma (to females)

KiswahiliJambo(JAM-bo)

Maorikia ora

Tahitiania ora na (ee-ah oh-rah nah)

ChamorroHåfa Adai

AlbanianAllo

Italian (italiano)buongiorno (bwohn-joh-noh)

Czech Dobry den (DO-bry den)

Hawaiian Aloha (Ah-LOH-hah)

Romanian Buna ziua(BOO-nuh ZEE-wa)

Ukrainian Pryvit (Pri-veet)

Polish Czesc (Chesht)

Finnish Terve (TER-vey)

Armenian Barev (Bar-ev)

Hungarian Szia (ZEE-yah)

Lithuanian Labas (Lah-bahs)

Welsh Bore da (BOY-ray DAH)

In today's ‘connected' world, there is no way we cannot be aware of the poly-culturalism that exists. Understanding this and using this understanding will serve to enhance national as well as business relations globally.

While we have listed the ‘hello' used in different languages of the world, language is just one aspect of the culture of any country and we need to keep in mind the different forms of greetings and conduct which can always serve to help create and maintain better relations .

Listed below a few features of greetings in different cultures which illustrate how being aware of another culture can either make or break relations.

1. Majority of the cultures of the world do not greet by shaking hands

2. Those who shake hands in greeting also do it in varied ways

3. The Germans have a very firm handshake, the French a light short one, the British a short but firm one and the Italians will follow a handshake with a hug or kisses on the cheek

4. The French, Italians, Portuguese and Italians greet friends by kissing on both cheeks

5. Following their custom, Hawaiians hug in greeting and exchange wreaths

6. Bowing is an important aspect of greeting in most Asian cultures

7. Thais hold their palms together about chest high, fingers outstretched and Cambodians do it as if they are praying with both hands folded together in front of their chest

8. The Japanese have deep bows signifying their level of respect

9. Maoris press their noses together in greeting

Notwithstanding the language of greeting, when a courteous gesture or Hello is accompanied by a smile, then a smile back is the natural and universal reaction expected!